Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-15
NORTH CAROLINA.
THE STATE SENATE AND THE BLAIR
BILL.
other Legislative Matters Contested
Election Cases-Labor-The swamp
Lands Railroad Hotes.
Especial Telegram to tho DIspatch.l

Ispecial telegram TO the Dispatch.l
RALEIGH. n. c., January 1I.-Among
The bills introduced in the Senate to-day
was one for the repeal OF the merchants tax
on purchases. The resolution instructing
Senators and requesting Representatives Of
the state in Congress TO use every exertiou
TO secure the passage Of the Blair bill was
adopted by a vote OF Al TO 1. The bill 10
confirm the consolidation OF the Rutherford
Railway Construction Company and the
Rutherfordton and Marine Railway Com-
paDy with the Charleston, Cincinnati and
Chicago Railroad Company caused a very
long and heated discussion, but was finally
passed.
HOUSE.
In the House the bull requiring private
banks and bankers 10 make semi.annual
statements 70 the Stale Treasurer passed, as
did also the bill extending for two years
the time for settling the State debt.
A bill providing for working public roads
by taxation was defeated, as was al.O one
prohibiting justices Of the peace from hold
ing any other Office.
LABOR.
q The bill for the relief Of the lsbOring
classes Of the state was passed. II raises a
the first since the session when there was
no political quarrel or debate.
The House Committee on Privileges and
Elections Is in session continuously. There
are 100 witnesses here TO be examined.
The news Of Cluverlus's execution Gre
ated a profound sensation here this after.
noon. Little else has been talked OF on the
streets. Public sentiment is exactly d.
vided as to his guilt or innocence.
The clerk OF the Federal Court said to-
night that he did not now expect de-
clsion in the special tax bond case until the
meeting OF that court next June. Judge
Bond now has the papers.
A SENSIBLE ACTION
was that Of the House OF Commons in 50
modifying the law in regard to carving
concealed weapons az to place that offence
under the jurisdiction Of magistrates. 1t
was stated that there is a general desire to
extend the powers Of magistrates. There
are many complaints about the slowness ii
the superior Courts, and in many cd,es
these are well founded.
ORGANIZED FOR WORK.
The Democrats in the Legislature had
two caucuses Wednesday evening and last
evening, and are now thoroughly organ
ized. They propose now to show the
Radicals and Independents that they can.
not have things their own way.
THE CONTESTS PoR SEATS.
The House Committee on Privileges and
Elections sits every afternoon in the State
Library. The discussions before It are eX-
citing. Yesterday 1t worked on the Wit
Son.county case, in which a Republican
contests the seat OF Farmer, Democrat
The weight Of evidence is in the latter's
favor The Craven county case was taken
mp to-day. There are over fifty witnesses.
Both Lane (the sitting mcmber), Democrat,
and Hussey, the negro Republican who
contests his seat, are represented by cOun-
sci. II will be The most exciting and
longest contest Of all the five in both
branches Of The Assembly.
CHANGING THE CODE.
At great expense, three our four years
ago, the state got out Code. The last
LEGISLATURE tore it literally all to pieces,
and the pr, sent one is trying TO finish that
work. Bills 10 amend this or that section
Of the Code are poured upon the House and
senate daily. 1t is very absurd.
TOUCH or NEURALGIA.
Governor Scales, whose health recently
has so remarkably improved. was confined
10 his room yesterday and to-day by a Sc
we're touch Of neuralgia, 4 complaint from
Which he sometimes suffers great deal.
An ASSIGNMENT.
B.F. Suog, proprietor OF machine-shOps
at Greenylle, Pitt county, has assigned 10
f. II. llornaday. The amount Of assets
and liabilities Is not stated.
THE MASONs.
The reports from the various Subordi-
nate lodges to the Grand Lodge show that
there are 1900 MasOns in North Carolina
having active membership in such lodges.
NEWSPAPER PERSONALS.
Mr.. F. Il. Arcndell, who has been BUSH
ness manager Of and special contributor to
the Chronicle, Of this city, since It's estab'
lishment in 1884, has severed his conDec'
ton with that excellent paper, and becomes
a member OF new mercantile trm here
under the name OF Leach, Page a Arendell.
Sir. Arcndell is widely known in the state.
THE STATE SWAMP LANDS.
These lands belong to the Board Of Edu-
cation, and that body at a meeting yester.
day outlined plan for the drainage and
reclamation OF extensive bodies OF valuable
land. The scheme covers system OF
canals, some navigable for iair-sized boats,
for a general dilching, using the earth eN-
cayated i'm the construction OF TOadways.
The recommendation are practical. There
are bmd-eds OF thousand Of acre, Of these
lands, IL great part being Of the utmost fer
tility when at all developed.